Impact of Covid-19 on mobile phone users among youths in Manipur

Rajendra Kshetri & Achom Roshan Kumar
Nowhere to go with social, religious and any kind of gathering at public places, offices, parks, gyms, theatres, swimming pools, cafes a remote possibility during this ongoing period of COVID 19 lockdown, almost everyone with the exception of the frontline COVID warriors and volunteers, are equipped with a Smartphone/Mobile phone often with earpieces, microphone and other mobile accessories such as the mobile charger, power bank etc, the main purpose of which is to pass away idle time. This is more or less true in general for all ages, sexes, communities, religions and professions yet the above features are more frequently and regularly characteristic of the younger generation and the student community in particular. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the student community is now hand in glove with their mobile phone.
Recapturing the events of the past few months leading to the present series of lockdowns and curfews, one can say that COVID -19 began to hit the entire world since early 2020. In response to this global pandemic, the Government of India had chosen to put the whole country under total lockdown for an initial phase of 15 days beginning March 24, 2020 in its effort to check the spread of the deadly disease. The lockdown extended for another 15 days and thereafter in consultation with the respective state governments, necessary precautionary steps were taken up by the concerned states taking into account the local situations. The imposition of total lockdown and curfew has brought to a complete halt the everyday transactions and mundane activities of daily life. Hence, much of these activities from official work to buying groceries and household items, meeting relatives to peer group interactions and socialising has to be carried out right from home. The mobile phone with its multi-functionality and innumerable Apps therefore, became the most appropriate and ultimate gadget for everyone, young and old, men and women to carry out their daily routine tasks while remaining at home. Indeed mobile phone turns out to be the right tool at the right time.
At this juncture, one of the most basic needs of human being of keeping in touch with fellow beings, friends, relatives, and colleagues, co-workers, meeting new acquaintances and making friends can only be fulfilled through mobile telephony and its vast network across the globe. The inevitability of mobile phone seemingly becomes more vivid and clear during this total lockdown. Fighting the invisible common enemy of humanity from within the inescapable fort of one’s home, mobile phone becomes the most trusted arsenal that retrieve and share information of all kinds, news, latest data and figures, updates on the efforts of scientists of different countries in their hunt for a vaccine to neutralise the enemy. Videos, audios, music, short film clips, comedy, fun and entertainment of all kinds are also shared in hundreds of thousands of online forums and groups on social media platforms like facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Youtube,Tiktok etc. Our young people take a leading role in uploading and sharing several important and socially beneficial information and knowledge regarding the present COVID-19 situation. Information ranging from how one can increase immunity to protect oneself from the virus to various safety measures, the Dos and Don’ts are also shared on several platforms. On the other hand, in their haste and urgency to share information, they sometimes upload contents without verification thereby circulating fake news and rumours. Out there in the cyber jungle, there are many rumour mongers and sinister designs that would make and upload hate videos and speech which is illegal under the purview of law. Many youths may also share such contents out of their naivety which may in fact brought them under the police and cyber crime scanners or even get imprisonment.  In yet another interesting development during the lockdown are the offices and business establishments which are managed and run through the mobile platform.
Several private companies encourage their employees to stay and work from home. Even many a mom and pop store suddenly goes online; goods are ordered and sold through online mobile phone transactions. No wonder more than a dozen local online stores emerged in Imphal that started selling and delivering various food and essential items including wet rations such as fish and meat. All these transactions happen almost entirely through the mobile phone network. However, most of these transactions or purchases are carried out by the youth through mobile phones on the instruction of their parents and elders, since online transactions are too complicated and difficult for many older generations to understand.
A short story posted online provides a brief picture of the Corona pandemic and how people manage to survive and spend time indoors. The story thus ran as follows...
Online class – Teacher asked the students to write a short essay on “Corona”. So one boy wrote ... Corona is a big ...... festival celebrated by both young and old all over the world. During this festival, schools, markets, churches are closed and exams are cancelled. Everybody wears masks during this festival. It is the time when every school going children gets a Smart phone as a gift from their parents. During this festival “Daddies” learn cooking, washing and cleaning, while mommies and children spend their time with Mobile phones. I love Corona festival very much!
As simple as it sounds, the above story also draws a very clear picture of how people manage to spend their free time during the lockdown. How mobile or smart phone came to occupy an important place in the life of each individual?
How children including even the school going ones spend their free time at home? Why smart phones are bought for children? These are some interesting questions that arise out of the present situation of prolonged lockdown in the country as well as in the state of Manipur.
Some acquaintances in the mobile retail industry informed that smart phones were sold like hot cakes particularly during the few hours of lockdown and curfew relaxation in the early phases of COVID-19 lockdown in Manipur. Brand, model or price was no longer a deterring factor for purchase of mobile phone handsets. Groceries and household essentials were not only the most sought after items during this time of panic buying. It is learnt that the major reason for parents buying smart phone for their children during the lockdown is the starting of online classes by various schools, colleges and institutions in the state.  The intended purpose of these smart phones is nevertheless highly questionable given the fact that our children use only a small amount of time to attend to their online roll call, download video lectures and study notes. While a huge proportion of their time is devoted to things or activities on mobile phones other than their studies.
The online classes being carried out at present is in fact, a good initiative to keep the students occupied and keep them in constant touch with their studies and books. However, the seriousness of students to these classes and the effectiveness of this mode of teaching-learning process need careful examination. Further, online virtual classes may be the most suitable alternative at present taking into account the prevailing situation in the state.
However, the academic atmosphere of a school, the presence of a subject teacher as an authoritative figure in the classroom, the classmates and its environment, the physical and body language of the students and their observation, disciplining and control by the class teacher etc are all completely absent in the online system of education. It is therefore highly questionable if the online mode of education is a good and reliable alternative to the conventional system of teaching and learning. Can virtual classroom replace the old system of education?
                       
To be Contd

(Rajendra Kshetri is Professor and Head, Department of Sociology, Manipur University, Canchipur.
Achom Roshan Kumar is Research Scholar, Department of Sociology, Manipur University, Canchipur.)